Progress 07/15/23 to 07/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Tractor final arrived at the University of Missouri in September 2023. In this report period, we reached out the following audiences through research and outreach activities. We estimate more than millions media reaches to famers and general public. - Reach out farmers and general publics through the following activities: (1) First announcement through a media congress: In September 2023, we have a media congress to announce the receive of the first autonomous tractor in the university of Missouri. The event was report by more than 200 stories/media and achieved millions of potential reaches. (2) Demonstrations in more than 10 state-level events, including five University of Missouri Field days at different regions of Missouri, Western Farm Show, MO Extension in Service Training and other field demonstrations for different groups of farmers. - Formal student teaching: the project was integrated into all courses for undergraduate students and students in the teaching program Agricultural Systems Technology of the University of Missouri. The tractor was perticularly used for teachingAST 3225: Sensor and Control Technology for Agriculture, AST 4160: Internet of Things for Agriculture and AST 4930: Capstone. The tractor was used for designing capstone projects. The total students involved in the period is estimated 120 students. - Pre-college students and other students: the tractor was used for educating pre-college students to learn AI and agricultural technologies. We held three events that were focused on high school students. We reached out to more than 100 high school students in the reporting period. The tractor was also used to train undergraduate students from other disciplines through REU program and summer camps. Changes/Problems:- Due to the delay of delivery of the tractor, we request a no-cost extension for one year - Due to the delay of the manufacturer, we are waiting for the autonomy feature to have the full excuation of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provides a great training tool for students and professionals to learning digital agriculture technology. We have used it in formal teaching and extension activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?- Media coverage - achieved millions reach related to this project. - Conference presentation - present the project in multiple conferences - Extension specialists integrate this project in their extension activities to reach out more farmers. - We make a YouTube video to introduce the technology. - Publication: we are developing journal papers and extension papers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In next cycle, we are planning to achieve the following objectives: - To test the fully autonomous features of the tractor in crop and animal production; - To conduct at least 10 extension activities - To use it in at least two research projects related to ag robotics and artificial intelligence - To conclude and wrap up this project with a proper continuation plan.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project aims to enable and enhance fundamental and applied research in the theme of digital agriculture at the University of Missouri and collaborating institutions. We are trying to help researchers, farmers and stakeholders to develop, use and learn digital agriculture technologies using an autonomous farm-scale tractor. We are trying to test and demonstrate the digital agriculture technologies (sensors, robotics and artificial intelligence) through research and extension activities. We are also trying to train the next-generation workforce in food and agriculture. In this reporting period, we have bring the autonomous and electric tractor to a broad audiences, including K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, farmers and other stakeholders. We disseminated digital agriculture technology to our target audiences through media coverage, teaching, field demonstrations and publications. In this reporting period we completed the following activities: (1) We received the autonomous farm-scale tractor. A media congress was held to announce the tractor project. (2) Research project was conducted to compare the performance of an electric tractor and a diesel tractor at a similar power capacity. We tested their performance in both laboratory and field conditions by conducting tasks of spraying chemicals, tillage, mower and other tasks. (3) At least 5 extension activities were conducted in university field days, extension in-service training and regional and state events (e.g., Western Farm Show, State Fair) (4) Teaching activities were conducted using the tractor to K-12 students and undergraduate students. Learning activities included formal class teaching, hand-on driving, discussion and demonstration. In general, the project was delayed due to the tractor delivery. However, we are catching up and it went well as we expected.
Publications
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Progress 07/15/22 to 07/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:- Tractor companies: We talked to three different companies regarding to the autonomous tractor technology, including Monarch Tractor, John Deere (See & Spray, and autonomous system) and AGCO (the XAVER system by Fendt). Now we have a better understanding on the status of the autonomous tractor technology. - Farmers: We reach out row crop farmers through a YouTube presentation. We also talked to farmers through different personal meetings. - Students: the project was integrated into the course AST 3225: Sensor and Control Technology for Agriculture of the teaching program Agricultural Systems Technology in the University of Missouri. Changes/Problems:The tractor is delayed significantly due to the supply chain issue. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Since the tractor is not with us yet, by now we only provided an onsite tour to the Monarch Tractor company in CA for two extension specialists in Ag Engineering and research faculty. We will make it available to more research faculty, field specialists and educators when it comes to our research site in the fall of 2023. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?- Extension specialists integrate this project in their extension activities to reach out more farmers. - We make a YouTube video to introduce the technology. - We integrate the project in our teaching activities. - We are planning to write two stories and publish them. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are still waiting for the tractor that is supposed to be delivered in the fall 2023. In the next cycle, we will fully conduct our planned work.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: we have secured an autonomous tractor that will be delivered to our research site this fall. We have paid the supplier. Objective 2: research plans have been updated and get them ready for the tractor. Objective 3: we have reached out different stakeholders, including farmers, industry and educators, which raised the awareness of the new technologies among the agricultural communities. Pertinent information regarding autonomous tractor has been integrated into teaching activities, and used as a tool to train next-generation workforce in digital agriculture.
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Progress 07/15/21 to 07/14/22
Outputs
Target Audience:1. Farmers:row crops (soybean, corn, and cotton), fruits (elderberry, chestnuts, etc.), animal production (cattle, dairy cow, goat, etc.) 2.Students: early career students and k-12 students 3. Other stakeholders related to agriculture 4. Anyone interested in digital agriculture and robotic technologies Changes/Problems:The project aims to acquire an autonomous tractor to demonstrate and enable digital agriculture technology through research and extension. We proposed to acquire a smart tractor in December 2021 according to the timeline provided by the manufacturer Monarch Tractor (https://www.monarchtractor.com/) in early 2021. However, the production line was significantly impacted by the global shortage of chips that are the critical components of smart tractors. In the past year, we have constantly communicated with the manufacturer to require early access to a tractor. However, the pandemic impact was beyond their expectation, and the delivery date was postponed three times. The latest estimation for the availability of a tractor is the 4th quarter of 2022. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We only had introdutioin to the project and technology due to lack of a real tractor How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our plan: Smart tractor acquisition: We will closely work with the contact person of Monarch tractor and push to get the tractor by the 4th quarter of 2022. We will also actively approach Ztractor and Bear Flag Robotics to get updates on their availability. We expect a smart tractor will be available to the team in the 4th quarter of 2022. Extension activities: we will continue working with collaborators and farmers to promote digital agriculture. We plan to attend and present our project at two events focusing on farmers, MO State Fair, Western Farm Show, and Great Plains Growers Conference. Demonstration activities: As soon as we receive the tractor, we will conduct a demonstration by inviting the whole project team, farmers, and other stakeholders.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project Activities: In the past project year, we primarily conducted preparation work due to the delay in acquiring the proposed tractor. July 6, 2021: we had our kickoff meeting for the project through Zoom. Participants included seven of the eight PI/Co-PIs, two major users and two graduate students. The meeting aimed to announce the project, initiate the project activities, and update the timeline for tractor acquisition. July 15, 2021: meeting with Monarch team through Zoom. We presented the proposed research and extension activities using the tractor. We also required an additional tractor to support our aggressive research and extension activities. They generally agreed to provide an additional tractor to our team. They would target to provide a tractor to the project team in early 2022. July 2021 - December 2021: Promote smart tractor technology through extension activities. Co-PIs Karen Funkenbusch, Teng Lim and Rob Meyers were planning extension activities during their extension conferences. January 2022: the 2nd meeting with Monarch team. We discussed the possible time of delivery of the tractor and site visit to Monarch headquarter in California. The delivery time was postponed to the 3rd quarter of 2022. But they also mentioned the potential of access by our team to a prototype tractor in the summer of 2022. We also invited their engineer team to give a talk about smart tractor technology. March 2022: Email discussion about the alternative tractors. We reviewed several options, including John Deere autonomous tractor (not available yet), RowBot (not feasible), Ztractor (no drive option) and Bear Flag Robotics (not available). Our conclusion is that we will continue to wait for the Monarch tractor. June 2022: following up with the Monarch team: Newly updated time is the 4th quarter of 2022.
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